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Each of the AQUA-Tech® Power Filters provides 3-stage filtration for healthier fish and cleaner water. The first stage of the AQUA-Tech® filtration is mechanical. The blue polyfiber pad that is integrated onto the EZ-ChangeTM Filter Cartridge screens out dirt and debris as water passes through. The second stage of the AQUA-Tech® filtration is chemical. The activated carbon that is in the EZ-ChangeTM Filter Cartridge removes dissolved waste and cleans the water of odors.The third stage of the AQUA-Tech® filtration is biological. The BIO-Fiber that is included in each AQUA-Tech® Power Filter provides additional surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow and thrive. The bacteria then eliminate toxic ammonia and nitrites that can be fatal to fish. You should never clean or throw away the BIO-Fiber. If the BIO-Fiber becomes too clogged, rinse it with conditioned water only.

I got on of these filters with a 10 gallon aquarium kit that I bought on sale at Walmart. I used the filter for a few years and it is OK. What I like about it is that it has a good sized compartment for biomedia and its quite. Drawbacks are that the impeller needs to be frequently removed and cleaned for it maintain a good flow rate.

I have two, each being used on a ten gallon. These are perfect for keeping a quarantine or temporary tank. They are not very expensive and the cartridge will last quite a long time if you just rinse it out with some old tank water once a month. Biomedia sponge works great, but make sure you keep an eye on your flow; any problems and you most likely need to clean out the impeller. If you empty this thing make sure you prime it or it will take a long time by itself. Not sure if it will damage anything without priming, but I do it just as a precaution. I found that you can clean the impeller without removing the pump; just use a q-tip or something like it and stick it down the hole where the intake tube would go. Inexpensive, quiet, easy to maintain. Perfect if you keep multiple ten gallon tanks. Thinking of buying two more to start up two planted tanks.

Don't have a problem with the product, but the instructions could be much more specific when troubleshooting. They do not tell you that you MUST fill up the filter itself with water for the product to work properly. It vaguely says check water level on filter, but never once mentions while reading the instructions "that it needs to be filled with water"

For someone who's never used one, like myself, will have no idea to do that for it to work properly. Hopefully this helps others in the future who had same problem.